Electric regulator system



Nov. 27, 1923. V 1,475,737

C. A. BODDIE ELECTRIC REGULATOR SYSTEM Filed July 15 1919 WITNESSES: INVENTOR C2. 670/5006 ABpdd/e.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES CLARENCE A. BODDIE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO TESTING-- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING VANIA.

Application filed July 15,

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, CLARENCE A. BODDIE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Regulator Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric regulator systems and particularly to regulator systems for varying the excitation of dynamoelectric machines to maintain constant voltages on supply circuits.

One object of my invention is to provide a voltage-regulator system having a malncontrol element that shall be governed in accordance with the supply-circuit conditions to so control the excitation of a generator as to maintain constant supply-circuit voltage and that shall be subjected to a reactionary force which varies in accordance with the excitation of the generator in order to steady the operation of the regulator.

In regulators of the vibratory type now in service, the contact members of the maincontrol element are operatedby a main electromagnet in accordance with an electrical condition obtaining on the regulated circuit. The contact members control the excitation of the main enerator which is connected to the regulated circuit to govern the electrical condition of that circuit. Moreover, an auxiliary-magnet, which is under the control of the contact members, is provided for vibrating one of the members in order to repeatedly connect and disconnect said members. In brief, the auxiliary magnet operates to determine the rate'of making and breaking the circuit through the main contact members, and the main electromagnet operates for varying the relation of the contact members to determine the duration of engagement between the members during each cycle of operation and, accordingly, to determine the excitation of the main generator. In a regulator of the character just mentioned, no change is effected in the operation of the contact members by the main magnet to vary the excitation of the main generator except that which is produced by the action of the regulated circuit on the main magnet. Consequently, the regulator is subjected to a time element during operation which varies in accordance with the sensitiveness of the main control element to I 1,475,731 PATENT OFFICE.

COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- ELE CTRIC REGULATOR SYSTEM.

1919. Serial No. 310,979.

changes in the regulated circuit and corre- Tpondingly affects the accuracy of the reguator.

In a regulator of the vibratory type which is constructed in accordance with my invention, the contact members of the main control element are controlled by a main and an auxiliary electromagnet in the customary manner and in accordance with the conditions obtaining on the regulated circuit. The contact members not only control the auxiliary magnet but also preferably selectively control two relays for operating a rheostat motor in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction, according to whether the regulated-circuit voltage is to be raised or lowered. The rheostat operated by the motor varies the excitation of the main generator to control the conditions of the the operation of the element prior to the action ofthe main magnet on the control element which would be caused by the resulting change in theregulated-circuit conditions. Thus, in case the main contact members are operated by the-main magnet to increase the generator excitation and, accordingly, to increase the regulated-circuit voltage, the contact members are subjected to a reactionary force at a time prior to the obtaining of normal voltage on the regulated circuit, that chan es the relative position of the contact mem over-compensation of the regulated circuit which must necessarily result if the contact rs so as to prevent any members are controlled solely by the main magnet in accordance with the cuit voltage.

In the illustrated systems for practicing my invention, the reactionary force is varied either in accordance with the change in energization of the generator field windin s or in accordance with the movement 0 the motor-operated rheostat, and the reactionary force acts on the main control element regulated cireither through the auxiliary electromagnet or through a separate compensating electromagnet. However, it is to be understood that I do not consider my invention limited to either of the above-mentioned means for element.

In the accompanying drawin Figure 1 is a diagrammatlc view of a regu ator system embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modification of m invention. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bel crank lever of Fig. 2, showing the connec tion of the auxiliary lever thereto.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a three-phase generator 1, embodying an armature 2 and a field winding 3, is directly connected to a three-phase supply circuit comprising conductors 4, 5 and 6. The field winding 3 of the generator is connected, through a rheostat 7, across an exciter circuit comprising conductors 8 and 9. The exciter circuit is energized by means of a battery 10 and an exciter generator 11.

In order to control the voltage of the generator 1, and, accordingly, the voltage obtaining on the su ply conductors 4, 5 and 6, a main control e ement 12 is operated in accordance with the supply-circuit voltage for adjusting the rheostat 7. The main control element 12 comprises a main electromagnet 13, a vibratory electromagnet 14 and a pair of main contact members 15 and 16 which are varied by the two electromagnets. The main electromagnet 13 comprises a winding 17 which is connected across the supply conductors 5 and 6 by means of a potential transformer 18 and a core armature 19 which is operated by the winding 17 and which is pivotally connected to a contact arm 20. The contact arm 20 is fulcrumedat 21 and carries the main contact member 16 near one of its ends.

The auxiliary electromagnet 14 comprises a winding 22 which is connected, in series with an adjustable resistor 23, across the ggnerator field winding 3 for a purpose to hereinafter set forth and is vibrated by intermittently short-circuiting a portion of the resistor 23. In connectin the winding 22 across the field winding 3, it is apparent that the energization of the electromagnet 14 is varied in accordance with the operation of the rheostat 7. The windin 22 0 rates a core armature 24 which is pivotally connected to a contact arm 25. The contact arm 25 is fulcrumed at 26 and carries the main contact member 15 which co-operates with the contact member 16. A spring 27 is connected to the arm 25 for counter-balancing the core armature 24 and for biasin the contact members 15 and 16 toward eac other.

The two contact members 15 and 16 are respectively connected to two conductors 28 and 29, which, in turn, are connected across the exciter bus-bars 8 and 9 through a resistor 30. Three relays 31, 32 and 33 are respectively provided with energizing windings 34, 35 and 36 which are connected across the conductors 28 and 29 in order to be energized in accordance with the o eration of the contact members 15 and 16. VShen the contact members 15 and 16 are disengaged, the relays 31 and 32 are operated to open positions and the relay 33 is operated to closed position. Upon engagement of the contact members 15 and 16, the windings of the three relays 31, 32and 33 are shortcircuited to close the circuits passing through the relays 31 and 32 and to open the circuit passing through the relay 33.

A motor 37, havin an armature 38 and differential field-windings 39 and 40, is rovided for operating the rheostat 7. The eld winding 39 is connected, in series with the armature 38 and a resistor 41, across the exciter bus-bars 8 and 9, and the field winding 40 is connected, in series with the resistor 42 and the armature 38, across the exciter bus-bars. Inasmuch as the field windings 39 and 40 are differentially wound, no excitation and, accordingly, no movement of the motor is effected under normal conditions.

In case it is desired to increase the excitation of the main generator 1 and to raise the voltage on the supply conductors 4, 5 and 6, the relay 32 is operated to short-circuit the resistor 41 so as to excite the motor and rotate it in a clockwise direction. The clockwise rotation of the motor decreases the resistance ofthe rheostat 7 included in the generatorfield-windin circuit and, accordingly, increases t e excitation of the generator 1 to increase the voltage impressed upon the supply conductors 4, 5 and 6. In case it is desired to decrease the voltage impressed upon the supply conductors 4, 5 and 6, the relay 33 is operated to short-circuit the resistor 42. Uponshort-circuiting of the resistor 42, the energization of the field winding 40 is increased to effect rotation of the motor 37 in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus, the resistance of the rheostat 7 which is included in the circuit of the field winding 3, is increased to decrease the ex-' citation of the generator 1 and, accordingly,

to reduce the voltage impressed upon the 1 main supply circuit. The relay 31, which is closed upon engagement of the contact members 15 and 16, serves to short-circuit a portion of the resistor 23 in order to intermittently vary the energization of the auxiliary magnet 14. Such intermittent energization of the electromagnet 14 effects a vibratory movement of the contact member 15.

In case the contact members 15 and 16 are disengaged and a voltage below normal 12 value obtains upon the supply conductors 4,

5 and 6, the energization of the main electromagnet 13 is decreased to effect engagement between the contact members 15 and 16. Upon enga ment between the contact mem- 1 bers 15 an 16, the relay 32 is operated to short-circuit the resistor 41 which is included in circuit with the motor-field windraise the contact member and separate'it tive time duringseach cycle of operation of from the contact member 16. Thereupon,

the relay 31 is released to restore the energization of the electromagnet to normal value. Consequently, the contact members 15 and 16 will again efi'ect engagement to operate the. relay 31 and to continue the same cycle of operation. Thus, the relay 31, controlled by the contact members 15.

and 16 intermittently, varies the energization of the magnet 14 to vibrate the contact memberv15.

The position of the contact member 16, which is determined by the energization of the mairi electromagnet 13, governs the relathe main control element that the contact members 15 and 16 are in engagement with' tact member 15'to prevent further raising of the supply-circuit voltage until normal voltage conditions should obtain upon the supply circuit to increase the energization of the main electromagnet13. Thus, it is apparent that the time element of the variouspieces of apparatus and the inertia of the various moving parts would tend to overcompensate the main supply conductors 4, 5 and 6.

In order to prevent such over-compensation and the raising of the supply-circuit voltage above, normal value, the winding 22 of the magnet 14 is connected across the main field winding 3 in order to be energized in accordance with the movement of the rheostat 7 or in accordance with the energization of the ,field'winding 3. Thus, in the case assumed, the energization of the electromagnet 14 is increased to effect a the contact member 15. The separation of the contact members 15 and 16 operates to close the relay 33 and, accordingly, to shortcircuit the resistor 42 so as to increase the energization of the field winding 40. There upon, the motor 37 is operated in a counterclockwise direction to increase the resistance of the rheostat 7 which is included in the circuit of the generator field winding 3. The excitation of the generator 1 is accordingly reduced to decrease the-voltage impressed upon the, supply conductors 4, 5 and 6. During such operation of the rheostat 7, it is apparent that the energization of theauxiliary electromagnet 14 is decreased to move the contact member 15 to- Wards the contact member 16 and, accordingly, anticipate the operation of the contact member 16 by the electromagnet 13 :which would be caused by the reduction in voltage on the supply conductors 4, and 6. Inasmuch as the modification disclosed in Fig. 2 of the drawing is very similar,

in operation and construction, to the system disclosed in Fig. 1, 1ike reference characters have been used to designate corresponding parts and only so much of the system shown in Fig. 2 as differs from the system disclosed in Fig. 1 will be described in detail.

In the system disclosed in Fig. 2, the core armature 19 of the main electromagnet 13 is pivotally connected to a contact arm 50 which, in turn, is pivotally mounted upon a bell-crank lever 51. The contact arm 50 carries a main contact member 52 which co-operates with a stationary contact member 53. The two contact members 52 and '53 intermittently bridge the conductors 28- tact members 15 and 16 in the system disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The bellcrank lever 51 is fulcrumed at 54 and is pivotally connected to the bifurcated end portion 55 of an auxiliary lever 56 in the manner shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

An auxiliary or vibratory electromagnet 57,'h aving a winding 58 and a core armature 59, is provided for vibrating the con tact member 52. The winding 58 is connected, in series with. a resistor 60,.across the secondary winding of the transformer 18 which is connected across the supply conductors 5 and 6. The winding 58 operates upon the core armature 59 which is pivotally connected to the arm 56. 'A compensating electromagnet 61 having a core armature 62 which is pivotally connected to the arm 56-and a winding 63,is provided for operating the arm 56 and, accordingly, the contact member 52; in accordance with the operation of the rheostat 7. The winding 63 is connected directly across the active portion of the rheostat 7 in order to effect energization of the electromagnet 61 directly in accordance with the operation of the rheostat.

The contact members 52 and 53 control the operation of the two relays 32 and 33 to rotate the motor 37 in a clockwise or in a counter-clockwise direction in order to raise or to lower the voltage which is impressed upon the sup-ply conductors 4. 5 and 6'. The contact members 52 and 53 also control the relay 31 for short-circuiting a portion of the resistor 60 to intermittently vary the energization of the vibratory electro-magnet 57 in a manner similar to the operation of the vibratory magnet 14 by the relay 31 in the system shown in Fig. l of the drawing.

The system disclosed in Fig. 2 operates in a manner similar to the system disclosed in Fig. 1. The vibratory electromagnet, which is intermittently energized by the relay 31, under the control of the contact members 52 and 53, effects intermittent operation of the main contact members. The main control magnet 17, which is operated in accordance with the voltage obtained upon the supply conductors 4, 5 and 6, determines the relative period of. engagement between the contact members 52 and 53 during each cycle of operation of the main control element. The arm 56 is not only controlled by the vibrating electromagnet 57 but is also operated by the electromagnet 61 in accordance with; the operation of the rheostat 7 in order to anticipate the operation of the contact member 52 which would be effected by the main electromagnet 13 upon raising or lowering the voltage on the supply conductors 4, 5 and 6.

Thus, in case the contact member 52 is moved toward the contact member 53 to increase the voltage obtained on the supply conductors 4, 5 and 6, the motor 37 is operated in a clockwise direction to decrease the resistance of the rheostat 7 which is included in series with the field winding 3. Thereupon, the voltage on the supply conductors 4, 5 and 6 is increased. Before the voltage upon the supply conductors 4, 5 and 6 is raised to change the energization of the main electromagnet 13 and, accordingly, to move the contact member '52 away from the stationary contact member 53, the energization of the compensating electromagnet 61 is increased by the operation of the rheostat 7 to raise One end of the arm 56. The movement of the arm 56 is transmitted, through the levers 54 and 50, to move the contact member 52 away from the contact member 53 and, accordingly, to anticipate the operation of the main ele'ctromagnet 17.

In case the voltage across the supply conductors is being reduced, the energization of the compensating magnet 61 is reduced in P V such manner as to anticipate the operation of the main electromagnet 13 and: to effect movement of the contact member toward the contact member 53. Thus, after the contact member 52 has been operated by the main electromagnet 13 to decrease or to increase the excitation of the main generator 1 for varying the voltage impressed upon the supply conductors 4, 5 and 6, the compensat ing electromagnet 61 is energized in a manner to anticipate the operation of the main electromagnet 13 in returning the contact member 52 to a normal position. In the above operation of the main control element, it is to be understood that the contact member 52 is constantly vibrated by means of the vibrating magnet 57, and the main electromagnet. 13 and the compensating magnet 51 merely change the relative positions of the contact members 52 and 53.

Modifications in the system and arrangement and location of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a voltage-regulator system for a supply circuit, a pair of main contact members, means for operating said contact members in accordance with the supplycircuit volt-age, means for effecting vibratory operation of one of said contact members, and means controlled by the contact members for maintainin a constant supplycircuit voltage and a so for subjecting the contact members to a reactionary lorce.

2. In a voltage-regulator system for a supply circuit, a pair of contact members, means'for operating said contact members in accordance with the supply-circuit voltage, means for vibrating one of said contact members, and means controlled by the contact members for maintaining a constant supply-circuit voltageand for subjecting the contact members to a reactionary force which opposes the initial operation of the members by the first-mentioned means.

3. In a voltage-regulator system, the combination with a supply circuit, a generator connected to the supply circuit, and a rheostat for varying the energization of said generator, of a main control element having a. pair of main contact members, means for operating the contact members in accordance with the supply-circuit voltthe condition ofthe supply circuit, means for vibrating one of said contact members,

means for operating said rheostat in accordancewith the operation of said contact members, and means for varying the operation of the vibrating contact member in accordance with the operation of said rheostat.

5. In a regulator system, the combination with a supply circuit, a generator connected to the supply circuit, and a rheostat in circuit with the generator field windings for varying the excitation of the generator, of a main control element having a pair of main contact members, a magnet ior operating said contact members in accordance with the supply-circuit voltage, and a second magnet controlled by said contact members for effecting a vibratory movement of one of said contact members, means comprising a motor controlled by said contact members for operating said rheostat to maintain a constant supply-circuit voltage, and means for varying the operation of the main control element in accordance with theenergization of the generator.

6. In a regulator system, the, combination with a supply circuit, a generator connected to the supply circuit, and a rheostat in circuit with the generator field windings for varying the generator excitation, of a main control element having a pair of main contact members, a magnet for operating said contact members in accordance with the supply-circuit voltage, and a second magnet controlled by said contact members for effecting vibratory movement of one of said contact members, means for varying the eaiergization of one of said magnets, and means comprising a motor controlled by said contact members for operatin said rheostat to maintain a constant supp y-circuit voltage. 7. In a vibratory-regulator system, a sup ply circuit, a main control element having a pair of main contact members and means for operating the, contact members in accordance with supply-circuit conditions, means governed by said control element for maintaining normal conditions on the supply circuit and for reacting on the control element to influence the operation of said first-mentioned means.

8'. In a voltage-regulator system for a supply circ a main control element having a pair 0 contact members a :10! operating said contact fmem in accordance with the supply-circuit voltage, and a second electromagnet for vibrating one of said contact members, and means controlled by the contact members for maintaining a constant supply-circuit voltage and for controllin the second magnet to oppose the operatlon effected by the first magnet.

9. In a voltage-regulator system for a supply circuit, the combinationcomprising a main control element having an electro magnet operated in accordance with the voltage obtaining on the supply circuit, an auxiliary magnet, and main contact members controlled by said magnets and serving to vary the energization of the auxiliary mag net to vibrate one of the contact members,

and means controlled by said contact members for maintaining a constant su ply-circuit voltage and for subjecting t e main control element to a reactionary force.

10. In a voltage-regulator system, the combination with a main control element of the vibrato type, of a motor-operated rheostat contro led by. said element, and means for modifying the action of said element in accordance with the operation of said rheostat.

11. In a voltage-regulator system, the

combination with a generator and a main control element of the vibratory type, of means comprising a motor-operated rheostat controlled by said element to operate in either direction for governing the voltage of said generator.

12. In a voltage-regulator system, the combination with a generator and a main control element of the vibratory type, of means comprising a motor-operated rheostat controlled by said element for governing cnennncn a BODDIE. 

